On Midnight Wings

                                     



On Midnight Wings
by Adrian Phoenix


“On Midnight Wings” is Book Five of the ‘Maker’s Song’ series by Adrian Phoenix. This thrilling but dark urban fantasy continues to follow Dante Baptiste as events conspire to force him closer to madness and threaten to tip the balance so that he becomes the Unmaker. The betrayal and capture of both Heather and Dante stuns their allies who are handicapped by their inability to track either. The multitude of warring factions, each of which has its own plans for Dante, cause an odd game of tug of war which complicates the disposition of Heather. Sadly, the allies have their own obstacles to overcome before they can help the beleaguered couple who, as usual, may have to rely solely on themselves for rescue but it may be too late for Dante as he spirals downward into despair.

 This complex and alluring urban fantasy is filled with an almost overwhelming cast of characters who are disturbing yet mesmerizing. There is a sometimes dismaying amount of death and destruction yet one cannot help but feel empathy for the dichotomy personified in the main character, Dante. The adamantine bond which has been formed between him and his mortal lover Heather is delicious to observe yet its existence can still be threatened and this only adds to the escalating tension that is a perpetual aspect of this enthralling series. It is definitely recommended that the series be read from the beginning and in order and even then it is somewhat difficult to keep track of the shifting alliances and multitude of goals being pursued. The harsh torments suffered throughout Dante’s life are constantly alluded to in his flashbacks and it is easy to see why his grasp of reality is so tenuous but one cannot help but empathize with him, despite his ofttimes horrific actions...which is why this author is so impressive. The ability to turn situations on end and make one sympathetic to actions that would not be otherwise condoned is an impressive talent and I always anxiously await the next installment in the series so that I can be amazed yet again by the machinations of the various factions. This was an excellent addition to the series although one should be warned that there are just as many questions, if not more, that still need to be answered. I look forward to unravelling more of the mysteries.

© Night Owl Reviews

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

On Midnight Wings: Book Five of The Maker's Song (Amazon link) 

          

My review for Etched in Bone is at this link.

(Note:  I love this urban fantasy series.  It started a little slow for me and I have had my ups and downs with it but I definitely find the characters compelling and enthralling to watch.  That doesn't mean that I don't cringe at the considerable amount of havoc and horrific things that are described but I am still drawn to the series.  I think this author is extremely talented and I also enjoy her other series with a Cajun flair that starts with Black Dust Mambo so once you finish with the 'Maker's Song' series...you might consider that one as well.)

        Black Dust Mambo (Amazon link)

Crash Into Me by Tracy Wolff, cat meal fundraiser

                                  

(oops, I am a day late but I am happy to announce that this novel was released yesterday!  It is on my sky-high pile of TBR titles but I am definitely looking forward to reading it)



Crash Into Me
by Tracy Wolff


Blurb:

She’s totally off limits, but this rocker wants a taste…
Jamison Matthews has lusted after Ryder Montgomery since she was a preteen. But now that Ryder and her brother’s band, Shaken Dirty, has made it huge, she’s just one of many pining for the brooding lead singer. Too bad Ryder still sees her as a little sister. Not that it matters. Her brother would never allow it, and the last thing Jamison wants is to be another notch on a rock star’s bed post. Even if it’s Ryder’s.
Ryder doesn’t deserve happiness. After his fame destroyed his last girlfriend, he swore he’d never fall in love again. So when Jamison, the girl he’s been in danger of loving for years, joins the band on the road, he’ll do anything to deny the sparks between them—even after one hot night together. But Jamison is determined to show Ryder that he’s worthy of love—her love—and that she’s all grown up…and ready to play.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Onstage, the band launched into “Awake,” one of the power ballads that had made them famous. The crowd screamed their approval and so did she. Totally not her typical modus operandi, but she couldn’t help it. 

Something about listening to Ryder croon the darkly haunting lyrics had her knees trembling and her heart beating much too quickly. If she closed her eyes, she could do what all the other women in the audience were doing and pretend that he was singing straight to her. 

 So much better than remembering he’d written these heartfelt words for another woman. For Carrie, who had killed herself and broken his heart so many years before. Her own heart ached at the thought. For him. 

Always for him. At twenty-nine, Ryder had already been through more darkness and despair than any one person should have to handle. 

 “Awake” finally came to a close, the last note hanging in the air for long, tension-fueled seconds. Then the band fell silent and the audience did the same, as if they were all holding their breaths. Ryder lowered his guitar, shuffled, and stamped his feet once, twice. It was a familiar gesture, one years of experience had taught her was his way of shaking off excess emotion. Again her heart twisted. It devastated her that more than ten years after the fact he was still eaten up by what had happened. Still determined to bury it under a bunch of layers that not only insulated him from his pain but also hid the real Ryder so deep inside the public Ryder that she wondered sometimes if he even existed anymore. Or if the boy who had held her while she cried, who had let her whisper her pre-adolescent fears without ever making fun of her, had disappeared forever.

 She searched for him in that one endless moment. 

 Looked for him in the obsidian eyes that arrowed to the heart of the crowd even as they barricaded his own emotions. 

 Combed through her own memories and expectations in an effort to see Ryder as he really was instead of how he portrayed himself.

 And when his eyes—his crazy, beautiful eyes—met hers, she found him. 

Seconds passed, long, intense seconds where she lost the ability to hear or breathe or even think. All she could do was look into Ryder’s eyes, at the feral heat boiling up and out of them, and want.

 She smiled at him, waved. He snarled back. But it wasn’t a leave-me-alone snarl. No, definitely not. It was his I-want-to-fuck-you-up-against-a-wall snarl—she knew it well, had seen it directed at a lot of women through the years—and her knees gave way when she realized that this time, finally, it was directed at her. It didn’t matter that there was no sign of recognition in his eyes, no knowledge that the woman he was looking at like that was actually her. Jamison. For one moment, he wanted her the way she’d always wanted him. 

 It was more than enough.

Crash Into Me (A Shaken Dirty Novel) (Amazon link)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connect with Tracy

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog


Buy Links for Crash Into Me

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes


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And...in case you aren't wasting enough time watching videos on the internet...follow the link and watch a few fun cat videos and if you fill in the captcha at the end, the viewing will count for a free meal that Morris' Rescue Watch is donating (sponsored of course by 9 Lives).   I really enjoyed the 'shell game' and the 'cat in the pot' and well...you know, lol   Link

Scent of a Mate (Spotlight, excerpt and giveaway)

                                  
 


Scent of a Mate by Milly Taiden is book one in her erotic paranormal "Sassy Mate" series


Blurb 

Mission: Scent a Mate



Jordan Alvarez knew that a promise to her best friend involved staking out the local wolf pack's scenting ceremony and recording the graphic details, but she was the writer and the only one with the balls to finish the task. No one would know that four human women had sneaked proof of their rituals, or at least, that was the plan until Aric Wolfe showed up. 



Mission: Stake a Claim



Aric Wolfe knew his baby sister was up to something, and expected her best friend, Jordan, to be in on the chaos. He finally had an opportunity to lay claim to a mate that had been under his nose for years. Jordan's scent called to both the man and the animal, and he was done fighting the call of the beast. It was time to mark his mate.



Mission: Survive an Alpha



When a good intention creates a problem for the Wolfe family, Jordan finds herself being stalked by a woman intent on claiming Aric as her own. Battle lines will be drawn, love will be put to the test, and Aric will have to fight Jordan's strong personality to keep her alive. Two alpha hearts seeking control will either find the balance or risk losing their love forever.






Excerpt

“Sounds like the perfect date.” 

She snickered and almost choked on her wine. 

“This is why I didn’t want you there. You, Emma, Nicole, and Karla are so going to get caught.” 

“We won’t! We won’t. We’ll be super–spy, research ninjas. Quiet, but sexy smart.” 

She grinned. 

“Oh brother,” Ellie groaned. 

“Speaking of brothers. Are, um, your brothers going to be there?” 

What she really wanted to ask was if one particular brother was going to be there. God, she hoped not. The first time she’d seen Aric Wolfe, she’d been a thirteen-year-old with a crush the size of Alaska. One look was all it took, and her poor teenage heart had been in puppy-love for years. And though it’d been a crush for a long time, it had never gone away. In fact, with years, it had grown. She’d tried to date other men and rid herself of the idea that he’d ever look at a non-shifter for more than a friendship, but it was useless. With time, her attraction for him had grown deeper, into something she didn’t want to think too much about or it would make her hyperventilate. 

Blue sparkles lit in Ellie’s eyes. “Yes, all my brothers will be there.” 

Oh hell. “Then, yeah, I will hide off somewhere and never move a muscle. I promise.” 

Ellie’s laughter, filled with unabashed delight, made her smile. “I still don’t understand why you’re so afraid of being around them.” 

Yeah well, Jordan knew all about that super smelling-power shifters had. The last thing she wanted was for Aric to know how one glance at his body and those damn sexy muscles got her so turned on she’d likely start a fire. She could probably melt butter on her skin. “I think it’s best to keep my distance. I know your parents weren’t fond of their only daughter hanging with so many humans.”

 Ellie shrugged. “It was either send me to regular school, or deal with packs of horny wolves hitting on their baby girl.” She grinned, grabbed her glass of wine, and sipped. “They knew humans don’t have our scenting or go into heat, so they decided to take the chance.” 

Jordan drank her own wine, letting the fruity flavor slip and slide over her tongue. “Yeah, but I bet they didn’t think you’d end up bringing home an annoying, fat Latina for your new pet.” 

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Who’s the wolf here, you or me?” 

Good point. Ellie’s parents had cared for Jordan. A lot more than Jordan herself could ever understand. Even after all those years being so close to them and Ellie, she still couldn’t make any sense of why they done so much when her parents hadn’t cared at all. What was it about them that made them different? And there had to be some resentment in there. They’d practically adopted her. 

“Alright. I’ve become like a second daughter since we became friends. That has to be annoying for them. I mean if they wanted more kids, they’d have had more the old fashioned way.” 

Jordan found the whole shifter community absolutely fascinating. If it were up to her, she’d be all in their business trying to figure out how the whole animal-human thing worked. 

“Why would you say they’d be annoyed by you?” Ellie’s face creased in a frown. “They like you. Heck, they love you more than any of their sons’ previous girlfriends. In fact, they like you more than most family we have. You’ve grown on them.” 

Jordan snorted. “Yeah like fungus or a rash.” 

“No, not like that. Like an unusual but lovely woman who needs a mate.” 

“What?” She spit out the wine she’d had in her mouth. “Who said I needed a mate?” 


Scent of a Mate (Sassy Mates Series - Book 1) (Amazon buy link)



Author Bio

 Want to know about me?

Milly Taiden (aka April Angel) was born in the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. She grew up between New York, Florida and Massachusetts. Currently, she resides in New York City with her husband, bossy young son and their little dog Speedy. She’s addicted to shopping for shoes, chocolate (but who isn’t?) and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. A bookworm when she can get her hands on a good story, she loves reading romance, thrillers and suspense.

Find out more about Milly Taiden here:

Email
Website
Facebook:
Facebook Friend Page
Twitter 

 ~ Look for these titles from Milly Taiden ~

 Now Available 
Scent of a Mate Sassy Mates Book One
Wolf Fever Alpha Project Book One Wolf Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book One
Sharp Change Black Meadows Pack Book One
Caged Heat Black Meadows Pack Book Two
“Mate Event” Halloween Heat III
Fate’s Wish
Wynter’s Captive


Coming Soon
Dangerous Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Two
Alpha Fever Alpha Project Book Two
Match Made in Hell
Caught by the Alpha
Unwanted Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Three Mate Fever Alpha Project Book Three


April Angel titles:

Stranded Temptation
Party Crasher
A Hero’s Pride Wounded Soldiers #1
A Hero Scarred Wounded Soldiers #2

The Sizzling Encounters Series
Mr. Buff #1
Wicked Valentine #2
Lucky Break #3


Coming Soon

A Hero’s Surrender
A Hero’s Temptation

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GIVEAWAY!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hellfire by Jean Johnson

                                      



5 out of 5 stars

Hellfire by Jean Johnson is part of the enthralling ‘Theirs Not to Reason Why’ science fiction series.  Ia is a massive precognitive who is also known as the Prophet to some of the Feyori and has honed many of her skills, including electrokinesis and her ability to use what she calls the timeplains.  She has become captain of the ship known as Hellfire which is armed with the Godstrike cannon and staffed it with a handpicked crew who are known as Ia’s Damned and who become her greatest asset in the war against the Salik.  Ia constantly navigates the narrow path that she sees as the only way to save the most beings in the future but she is sorely tested in her convictions, and challenged by her need to deal with the ‘Meddlers’, the Feyori who object to her half-blood connection to them.  The struggle to constantly juggle a myriad of potentially fateful choices exert a horrendous pressure upon the driven female but she never loses sight of her goal, no matter how many obstacles she has to destroy, avoid or restructure.  She just has to make sure she has the right beings around her at the right time.  Simple for a precognitive, right?  Definitely not.


This exciting addition to a fantastic space opera series continues to provide a mesmerizing multi-layered read.  It is exhausting to think of all of the constant consultations performed by the heroine to make sure that events are unfolding as they should and the stark example of the ‘butterfly effect’ made a significant impression, not only because it showed that Ia is capable of great emotion but it also demonstrated her dedication to her cause and willingness to put her body on the line for her beliefs.  I was thrilled to see the reappearance of those important to Ia and enjoyed watching her crew (including the requisite spies) being won over to the cause.  There are plenty of exciting descriptions of military engagements for those who are fond of such things but there is a beautifully emotional depiction of the price required to ensure that the final goal is feasible, no matter who it harms or how much regret is engendered.  The understated humor and veiled insults that Ia wields in addition to her firm conveyance of the logic behind her actions is contrasted with the reactions evoked in those she interacts with, whether alien or human, and the exquisite way she tailors her actions to the audience.  I think that it would be easy to fall into the spell woven by this wonderfully talented author if one hasn’t read the rest of the series but this story is best savored by starting at the beginning with “A Soldier’s Duty”.  That way you can fall under the spell and join me as I cheer for Ia’s accomplishments and mourn for her losses and anxiously await the next installment of her adventures.
 
© Night Owl Reviews

I received a copy of this yummy title in return for an honest review.


 Hellfire (Theirs Not to Reason Why) (Amazon buy link)



 The first books in the series:
(my post about them is at this link)


                                              

Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club, excerpt with a GIVEAWAY

                                       
 

Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club by Liz Stauffer



Liz Stauffer’s debut mystery novel Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club, published by Sartoris Literary Group, was released on June 28, 2013.
  



Things are not always what they seem in Liz Stauffer’s fast paced book of murder, mystery, and intrigue. 

When the "breakfast club" ladies of idyllic Mount Penn see bruises on Clare Ballard's pretty face, they suspect her hot-headed husband of abusing her, but the truth is much more complicated. 

When violence disrupts this Appalachian village's lazy routine, the ladies, led by the irascible Lillie Mae Harris, jump feet first into danger as bodies appear, neighbors disappear, and Clare is arrested for murder. 

Follow Lillie Mae and the other "breakfast club" ladies, who, armed with casseroles and pastries, help the police uncover the deep secrets this town hides beneath its perfect facade.

Excerpt:

Typing up a storm on her on her new Apple laptop, lost in the world of her own tale, Lillie Mae was jarred back to reality by the chime of her doorbell. Peeking out the window by her desk, she saw Clare at the front door, fidgeting like a two-year-old boy who needs to pee.
 
“Coming,” Lillie Mae called.
 
“Is it Roger?” Clare spurted when Lillie Mae opened the door.
 
“I don’t know, Clare,” Lillie Mae said, knowing exactly what Clare was asking. “I was never close enough to the body to see who it was, and when I asked Charlie, he wouldn’t say. Come in and sit down.”
 
Lillie Mae reached her hand out to Clare and guided her into the room. “Sit, dear,” Lillie Mae said. “Let me get you some coffee.”
 
“Don’t leave me, please,” Clare said, taking hold of Lillie Mae’s arm and pulling her down beside her on the sofa. “I’m crazy with worry. Too much has happened the last couple of days, and now this.”
 
Clare’s eyes filled with tears.  “Roger hasn’t been home since yesterday, Lillie Mae. He hasn’t talked to Billy at all. Not even a phone call. There is something terribly wrong.”
 
“That doesn’t mean that Roger’s dead,” Lillie Mae said. “Don’t jump to conclusions.”
 
“But it’s the other things, too. The phone calls. Billy. Just everything.”
 
Lillie Mae suspected by everything she was referring to Dale Beavers.
 
“What’s going on Clare? Tell me.”
 
“You were there when Mabel Goody stopped by the house yesterday looking for Roger.”
 
Lillie Mae nodded. “I went home shortly after she left.”
 
“Then Billy went out,” Clare said. “He thought he knew where Patrick might have gone, so he went up the mountain to check.”
 
“Did he find Patrick?”
 
“He said he didn’t, and he had no reason to lie.”
 
 “Where did you go, Clare?”
 
“How do you know I went somewhere?”
 
“I saw you. I remembered I was wearing your apron and was bringing it back.”
 
Clare stared at Lillie Mae as if deciding how much to tell her. “Where I went is incidental,” she finally said. “It’s what happened after I got back home that’s more important.”
 
“What was that?” Lillie Mae asked, her curiosity piqued.
 
“Billy was in the kitchen finishing up dinner. Believe it or not,” Clare said a half smile on her lips, “the boy likes to cook. Anyway, he was stirring the gravy and asked me to mash the potatoes.”
 
“You said he had gone looking for Patrick Goody but didn’t find him.”
 
“That’s right,” Clare said. “He went up to the old hangout close to High Mount, but nobody was there. It’s an old shack half falling down. You’ve seen it.”
 
Lillie Mae nodded.
 
“Billy was sure somebody had been there recently, though. Said there been a scuffle. Blood was everywhere.”
 
“Roger?” Lillie Mae asked.
 
“I don’t know, but I thought the same thing,” Clare said. “Billy wanted to call Charlie Warren, but I told him no, saying it might look bad for Patrick.”
 
“Makes sense,” Lillie Mae said.
 
“Billy agreed. Said he guess he watched too much TV. He’s such a good boy, Lillie Mae.”
 
“Billy’s a wonderful boy, Clare. You should be proud.”
 
 “We had a nice supper. Billy talked about school and then reminisced about his high school years. I guess his father not being at dinner brought up special memories from the past.”
 
  A frown furrowed Clare’s forehead. “It was at the end of supper that the phone rang. I thought it might be Roger, so I rushed to answer it. But it wasn’t.”
 
“Who was it?” Lillie Mae asked.
 
“I don’t know,” Clare said. “But it wasn’t Roger. The voice was weird, muffled. I’m not sure if it was a man or woman.” Clare paled as if reliving the experience. “I saw you, the voice murmured. You’re going to be sorry.”
 





Thursday Morning Breakast (and Murder) Club (Amazon e-book link)
 
Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club (Amazon paperback link)


About the Author:

Liz Stauffer short bio:

After some thirty years writing everything from political encyclopedias to software manuals, I retired from corporate life to write fiction, travel, and play on the beach. Since that time, I’ve traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world. I live most of the year in Hollywood, Florida, with my two doggie best friends, Mattie and Jakey, where I own and manage a vacation rental business.


Website

Twitter

Goodreads  


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GIVEAWAY

I am delighted to be able to offer a Kindle version of this title (if you don't have a Kindle, there are apps for most standard electronic devices) to one lucky commenter.  Please leave a valid e-mail address along with a comment about the most recent cozy mystery you enjoyed. One lucky winner will be chosen from those who have left a comment and e-mail address after October 19, 2013 using random.org

(new followers to the blog are always appreciated!)

Contests, freebies and giveaways and bargains! (updated 10/13/13)

Night Owl has the Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Evernight Publishing is celebrating its 3rd birthday!

Romance Books 4 Us has the October Spooktacular contest

Coffee Time Romance has multiple contests


Book giveaways and other fun stuff!
Please browse back through my blog over the past couple weeks as I have several lovely authors offering giveaways in both print and e-format as well as a gift card!  Hopefully you will find a new author to love and a title that intrigues you!

Don't forget to stop by Reviews by Crystal to see even more wonderful giveaways and great reviews and spotlights

and....

a delicious and inspiring (for me to eat, if not to make, lol) recipe presented by the envy-inspiring Rae on Lisa Renee Jones' blog at this link.

ADULTS ONLY after this point:

Sabrina York's delicious third installment in her Tryst Island series, Smoking Holt is only $.99 (click on cover for link)

                                  


Lisabet Sarai's erotic m/m short story Body Electric is also free for the weekend (click on cover for link)







Lynne Connolly has a boxed set that looks perfect for the Halloween season, Hosts to Ghosts.  Looks like a great bargain for only $.99!

                                                             




Shattered Souls by the prolific Delilah Devlin was a great paranormal story (I still am wary of looking in mirrors, lol) and it is available for only $.99 as well!


         



and wow, one of my favorite erotica authors has a book on the freebie list as well...Joey Hill's Natural Law:2 (Nature of Desire)
(be advised that the cover is different from the print version but who cares, it FREE!)

                                    

In the Blood and Will the Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up (Cover Reveal and Giveaway)

Today we’re revealing not one, but two covers for upcoming books by Sara Hantz. In the Blood releases November 5 and Will the Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up? releases May 6, 2014.

In the Blood

For seventeen years Jed Franklin’s life was normal. Then his father was charged with the abuse and murder of four young boys and normal became a nightmare.

His mom’s practically a walking zombie, he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl, Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be responsible.

In a life that’s spiraled out of control, Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood…

Excerpt
Chapter One
Pedophile:      Noun

An adult who is sexually attracted to children.

Scum.

Sleazeball.

Creep.

Loser.

Lowlife.

Asswipe.

Dad.

Chapter Two

Benjamin Franklin. My Dad.

Not that Benjamin Franklin.

That Benjamin Franklin.

Pedophile and murderer.

Freaked out?

Did you even know a bastard like that could lead a regular life?

With a wife and two children. A son and a daughter. No, nor did we. Until it was too late.

Too fucking late.

The numbing shock when he was arrested. The disbelief. The conviction that the police had gotten it wrong. Way wrong. Even in the face of damning evidence, we knew that the truth would come out. That the evidence got switched. That there was a cover up, or something.

Something.

Then the police found locks of hair belonging to each of those dead boys, so well-hidden in the little trinket box my dad’s mom gave him on her deathbed.

Then we knew. Really knew.

And that’s when our lives changed.

Forever.

Add In the Blood to your Goodreads shelf.




&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Will the Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up?

Abi Saunders might be a kickboxing champion, but when it comes to being the center of attention, she’d rather take a roundhouse kick to the solar plexus any day. So when her trainer convinces her to audition to be the stunt double for hot teen starlet Tilly Watson, Abi is shocked—and a little freaked out—when she gets the job.

Being a stunt double is overwhelming, but once the wig and makeup are on, Abi feels like a different person. Tilly Watson, to be exact. And when Tilly’s gorgeous boyfriend, Jon, mistakes Abi for the real star, Abi's completely smitten. In fact, she’s so in love with her new life, it isn’t long before she doesn’t have time for her old one.

But when the cameras are turned off, will she discover running with the Hollywood A-list isn’t quite the glamorous existence she thought it was?


Excerpt

“Abi, for God’s sake, concentrate,” Zak shouts. “Fairies don’t look like elephants when they fly. Legs together, arms graceful, and glide. Please.”

My cheeks are crimson and I want to die. I know he’s the director and has the right to holler, but doesn’t he understand that the louder he is the worse I am? We must have gone over this move fifty times and I still can’t get it. And I know, without even looking, the other guys have lost it with me. It’s easy for them but I’m a kick-boxer, not a freakin’ acrobat.

And now Zak’s saying something to one of the crew. Let’s all guess what it is: get rid of the silly girl. We couldn’t get anyone more incompetent if we tried. In fact a monkey could do better.

Well, he’s right, a monkey could do better. Then again, a monkey wouldn’t need to wear a harness that cuts badly into its thighs so it can fly across the room. We’re doing wire work, the one thing I was looking forward to. Ha. What a laugh that is.

At least we’re not filming yet. This is just the rehearsal or, as they say, ‘prepping’. We’re in one of the studios that’s full of equipment with pulleys and wires. I’ve no idea how it all works, except that it keeps me up in the air. I thought we’d be doing this outside but it seems they film wire work stuff indoors against a big screen, and then edit to make it look like it’s outside by dropping in a background. As Mom would say: “the wonders of modern science”.

What I’m doing is really basic stuff, nothing like the things they did on the Matrix. Which it wouldn’t be, obviously. I remember reading that those actors had months and months of kung fu training even though most of the stunts were done by stunt men.

Right. This is it. I’m going to really concentrate. I will not be beaten. I can do this. It’s not hard.

I’m a graceful fairy,

I’m a graceful fairy,

I’m a graceful fairy.

“Ready,” I call, for the first time feeling confident of success.

The technician holds up his thumb so I know we’re about to go. I take a deep breath, point my toes, bring my legs together and hold out my arms at a forty-five degree angle. So far, so good. I swallow hard as I begin to move.

Yay, I’m doing it. I’m actually doing it. Please let Zak say it’s ok.

“Hu-fucking-ray,” booms Zak’s voice. “At last, she’s got it.”

I’ve done it. I’ve actually done it. I can do wirework. And even Zak’s sarcastic tone can’t spoil it.

A loud crash, sounding like someone slamming the door, gives me a start and I jerk backwards. My legs splay and I lose all control of my body, until suddenly I’m hanging upside down.

This so isn’t happening to me. My hair flops into my eyes and my arms dangle in mid-air. And let’s not even think about how shallow my breathing is.

Crap.

After what seems like an eternity (which is probably only a few seconds) someone starts a slow handclap. And here’s me thinking it couldn’t get any worse.

I figure it’s Zak and wait for everyone to join in. Except they don’t.

The silence is deafening. Until…

“Look at that crazy bitch. You’re surely not expecting her to be my double.”

Tilly Winters in the flesh. And none too happy to see me!

Add Will the Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up to your Goodreads shelf.

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About Sara

Sara Hantz originally comes from the UK and is one of four children, having three younger brothers. Although she was an avid reader from a very early age, she didn’t get the writing bug until much later in life, though English was always one of her stronger subjects. She’s an avid sun chaser and now lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Australia (via 10 years in New Zealand). She writes young adult fiction and her debut book The Second Virginity of Suzy Green was published by Flux Books and made the prestigious list ‘New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age’. Sara has a PhD in Education and lectured for many years before deciding to devote more time to her writing and working in the family hospitality business. She has two grown-up children and w hen not writing, working or online with her friends, she spends more time than most people she knows watching TV - in fact if TV watching was an Olympic sport she'd win gold.

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GIVEAWAY

In celebration of the reveals, Sara is giving away a $50 Amazon giftcard! Use the rafflecopter below to enter.

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